WE’RE BACK! THE AAA QUARTERLY LUNCH WITH KEYNOTE SPEAKER, FR. JOCIS SYQUIA
By Ana de Villa – Singson
In an event-filled November for AAA, the AAA quarterly lunch, last held in 2019, made its comeback. Always featuring a keynote speaker, we were very proud to have the very much in demand Fr. Jose Francisco S. Syquia, better known to many as Fr. Jocis.
His credentials inspire awe…even fear…then hope…much hope! He is the Director of the Office of Exorcism of the Archdiocese of Manila, its Chief Exorcist so to speak. He is also a bestselling author, much coveted speaker and a very busy exorcist in a world which has begun to believe that spiritual attacks do happen.
Spiritual attacks are real. They cannot be consigned only to the paranormal or an overactive imagination. Many times, medical practitioners, psychologists, psychiatrists will have no answers when a person acts extraordinarily, akin to demonic intervention. Sadly, in the absence of answers and solutions, many resort to the occult, consulting an “arbularyo” (or “herbolaryo” as the inimitable Tita Lirio Mapa corrected me when I was making my introduction for Fr. Jocis’ talk). By doing this, by consulting outside the realms of our Catholic doctrine, one can unwittingly open and deepen channels of greater demonic harassment and bondage. At times, we unwittingly open doors of communication with the “evil one” through occult practices like participating in a séance, playing Spirits of the Glass (Ouija Board), listening to heavy metal and rock music, playing demonic games (Dungeons and Dragons), consulting a fortune teller, tarot card reader. These happen without intent, out of curiosity, out of lack of understanding and knowledge.
There is so much evil around us. And I worry and despair for my children. The world they inherit is at war, with whole countries besieged, whole races subjected to genocide. Everyday is a battle of good vs evil. But there is hope! Evil can be defeated if we recognize it and learn to confront it within the doctrines of our Catholic faith. Once, when things were going “bump in the dark” in my home, I appealed to the Office of Fr Jocis. Through Uwa Tambunting, Father’s very able lay assistant and my cousin on my mother’s side. I learned to recognize the possible channels which opened up doors through which the devil could enter my home. I learned to renounce these activities in the Adoration Chapel in front of the Blessed Sacrament, then went to confession, mass and communion. I learned that when I get that prickly goose bumps kind of feeling of a strange presence, I should say: “In the name of Jesus Christ, I command you to leave and go to the foot of Jesus’ Cross.” When I say this, followed by the Hail Mary, that queasiness and that uneasy feeling subsides. I had my house blessed using deliverance prayers ( regular blessing will not suffice) and I protect it with sacramentals, blessed salt, blessed water and now, blessed candles and the St. Benedictine cross insignia. Daily, before my children leave home for work, I pray over them, because I learned that a parent’s blessing, love and prayers are potent. And so I pray to their angels, to Mama Mary to intercede for them that they be kept safe and ultimately, I pray to God who watches us all.
Is this hocus pocus? Is this trickery? There are endless accounts of spiritual attacks. In our talk alone, I met a woman desperate to find a solution for her son who first got involved in drugs then started showing signs of demonic harassment; he would hear voices, talk to unseen spirits. His demeanor was so changed that out of fear for the rest of the household, he was transferred to another domicile. He is now ready to see a priest. And they hoped to find answers in Fr. Jocis’ talk.
Also among the guests, was a young couple, a young mother in white who attended the talk to personally thank Fr Jocis. Her infant daughter was harassed to the point of having demonic scratch marks on her little face and body. She was helped by an exorcist and is now thriving.
Spiritual attacks are real. But we are not defenseless! Our faith is not defenseless. There are prayers and sacramentals to protect us. After Fr. Jocis’ talk, he blessed holy water, salt, olive oil, Benedictine crosses, religious sacramentals, candles and bells. I had 35 liters of water , 9 kilos of non-iodized salt sent down from Ilocos. I had bells gifted by Joy Basilio, purveyor of sacramental items. So many blessed items, so many weapons for protection! And yet…all the holy water, holy salts, holy sacramentals will provide no protection if not accompanied with faith and a relationship with God. Without faith, all these sacramentals become hocus pocus, mere props. We need to believe. We need to trust. We need faith.
In the darkness a candle burns. There is hope. We can defend ourselves and those we love from spiritual attack. Through Fr. Jocis’ talk and the books (out of stock everywhere but happily, the publisher sent us a few copies), we can be guided. We can learn. We can pray. We can hope.
Good vs. evil. It is a daily choice, an hourly choice, an incessant choice. May we make the right choices always.
Posted below is a video of Fr. Jocis’ talk. Please watch it, then send it to others to watch too. It is evangelization when we spread the word. The slides used by Fr Jocis were kindly sent to us and you can clearly see them overlaid in the presentation.